Blister package and file system



@iii

Sept. 5, 1967 H. WERNER BLISTER PACKAGE AND FILE SYSTEM Filed Jan. 2G, 1966 United States Patent O 3,339,728 BLISTER PACKAGE AND FILE SYSTEM Heinz Werner, Chicago, Ill. (77 Kampenstrasse, 59 Siegen, Westphalia, Germany) Filed Jan. 20, 1966, Ser. No. 521,927 14 Claims. (Cl. 206-78) The present invention relates generally to display type containers which have a substantially transparent body commonly known as a bubble package or a blister package and, more particularly, to an improved display type package and file system which can be suitably utilized 4`to package and tile relatively small items, components,

parts, and the like. In its principal aspect, the invention is concerned with improved blister type packaging having provision for filing or arranging to permit easy location of the contents of the package which includes a means for easy removal of particular items from those contained therein yet which can withstand considerable reuse.

For use in such diverse applications as the packaging of relatively small items s-uch as electronic components, pharmaceutical tablets, assorted beads for children, and screws, nuts and pins, it is highly desirable to have packaging wherein items are expose-d to View while they are being stored and, yet, are able to be ,easily removed from the package when a particular item is needed. It is further desirable to be able to maintain an inventory of a pluraliof such items wherein the items can be conveniently stored and then located as desired.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is to provide a durable blister packaging which may be utilized as a container and then indexed or tiled, yet which renders visible its entire contents While being capable of withstanding considerable handling and reuse.

Another object of this invention is to provide a blister type package which can be conveniently stored or stacked in large quantities.

A further object is to provide a blister package which may be inexpensively and easily manufactured.

A still further object is to provide a blister package of the above-described type including a closure member by which particular items which placed in the blister package and then indexed or tiled can be readily removed or replaced as desired.

It' is a related object to provide a filing system for storing relatively small items wherein these items can be easily removed or replaced as desired by utilizing as -many blister packages of the above described type as desired.

lOther objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and from the drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a blister type package in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front end of view of a blister package, similar to that in FIG. 1 but here depicting a slightly modiiied closure means also embodying the features of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. y5 is aside elevational view, partially a cross section, of a still further embodiment in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the lines 6-6 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view depicting a novel filing system utilizing the blister type packages in accordance with the present invention.

While the invention will be described in connection with certain preferred embodiments, it is to be understood Mice that this invention is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments disclosed but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover the various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

'Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2 there is illustrated an exemplary blister package, generally indicated at 10, which is particularly suited for storing relatively small items and the like, in accordance with the present invention. As best shown in FIG. 1 the exemplary package 10 includes a base member 12, which may be formed of substantially identical faces 14 and 16.

As shown, the faces 14 and 16 are formed from a single sheet of a lightweight, durable material such as cardboard; and, when in position, the single sheet is folded at 18 so that the faces 14 and 16 are in a face-to-face relationship.

A blister dome 20 is attached to the base member 12 by means, such as an epoxy resin adhesive with the packaging area being formed by the area between the base member 12 and the blister dome 20.

The base member 12 is provided with a rst aperture 24 which has a size and shape such that relatively small items contained in the packaging area can easily pass therethrough.

In order to provide a means for allowing easy removal or replacing of items stored in the blister package 10 as shown in FIG. 1, there is included a circular closure lmember 22 which is positioned between the faces 14 and 16 in an abutting relationship therewith. The closure member 22 is rotatably attached to the faces 14 and 16 by means of a stud 26 and contains therein a second aperture 28. The aperture 28 formed in the closure member 22 corresponds in size and shape to the aperture 24 formed in the base member 12. Since the closure member 22 is mounted with respect to the base `member 12 so as to permit relative movement therebetween the closure aperture 28 can be moved into and out of register with the base member aperture 24, as desired.

By causing the closure member to move so that at least a portion of the second aperture 28 comes into register with at least a portion of the first aperture 24 in the base member, particular items can be easily removed or replaced. After the items have been removed or replaced, the closure member is again moved until the first and second apertures are no longer in register, thus preventing loss of other items from Within the package.

In order to enable access to the closure member 22 for rotating it, without having a protrusion or the like which can be frayed or torn off in handling, a thumb indentation 30 is provided which exposes only a portion of the closure member 22 which is substantially aligned with the edge of the b-ase member so that the user can easily grasp the exposed portion.

A tab 34 integral with the faces 14 and 16 serves as one advantageous means for placing suitable indicia on the blister package 10 when it is desired to use the blister packages in accordance with the novel file system of the present invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a slightly modified form of blister package generally indicated at 40 has been depicted. In this instance, the packaging area for a blister package 40 is formed between a base member 42 and a blister dome 44, which is mounted on the base member 42 in the manner described with respect to the embodiment of FIGS. l and 2. The base member 42 is similarly composed of a pair of substantially identical faces 46 and 48.

In the present instance, the closure member 50` is slidably positioned in a pocket 52 which is formed between thev faces 46 and 48 when securing the faces together by means such as glue.

For the purpose of allowing an opening for the contained items to pass through, the base member 42 has a first aperture 54 and the closure member 50 has a correspondingly sized second aperture 56, which may be brought into register with one another.

In order to have access to the closure member 50, an indentation 58 in the faces 46 and 48 exposes a portion of the closure member `50, and to remove or replace any of the stored items, it is only necessary to slide the closure member 50 out from the pocket 52 until at least a portion of the second aperture 56 comes into register with the first aperture 54. After removal or replacement of the desired article is completed, the closure member 50 is then slid back into its initial position in the pocket 52.

Referring to FIGURES and 6, there is shown still another modified form of the present invention, the packaging area of a blister package 70 is formed between -a base member 72 and a blister dome 74 which is mounted thereon.

In order to provide means by which access to the packaging area can be had, there is first included a closure member 76 which is positioned in a slidable relationship between the base member 72 and the blister dome 74. The lateral edges 78 and 80 of the closure member 76 are positioned in a pair of side guides 82 and 84 which are formed in the blister dome 74. Also included is a first aperture S6 in the base member 72 and a second aperture 83 formed in the closure member 76.

Indentation 90 in the base member 72 exposes a portion of the closure member 76. And, in a manner similar to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, items can be removed from or replaced in the packaging area by sliding the closure member 76 until at least a portion of the second aperture 88 comes in register with at least a portion of the first aperture 86. After the desired use, the closure member is slid into its original position, to reclose the package.

As an additional feature of the present form of the invention, there is provided a stop means for preventing the closure member 76 from traversing past a certain point. In carrying out the aspect of the invention, the side guide 82 is provided with an irregular portion 92 and the lateral edge 94 of the closure member 76 is similarly provided with an irregular portion 96, which has a lateral dimension that is considerably less than that of the irregular portion 92.

Thus, when the closure member 76 is pulled out, it can only traverse the lateral dimension of the base member 72 until it reaches a point 98 which is the outward end of the irregular portion 92.

Although this is unnecessary to the function of the stop means, it is preferred to make the lateral dimension of the irregular portion 92 such that contact with the point 98 by the irregular portion 96 finds the first aperture 86 in complete register with the second aperture 88.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for conveniently filing relatively small items and the like which utilizes a plurality of blister packages of the above-described type. This comprises, in general, placing selected items in particular blister packages, adding suitable identification to each blister package used to identify the items contained in the particular blister package and placing the blister packages in a predetermined manner to form a le or the like so that the identification on the blister packages can be conveniently viewed for rapid selection therefrom. The items can be placed in the blister packages or removed therefrom by the steps hereinbefore described.

Referring to FIGURE 7 there is illustrated one method for utilizing a plurality of blister packages in accordance withthe present invention to form a file system for storing relatively small items. A plurality of the novel blister packages as herein described are placed in an upright position so that the substantially at blister dome 102 of the blister package abuts the base member 104 of the preceding blister package. Alternately placed tabs 106 provide one means of suitably identifying the contents of the various blister packages which may be placed in a predetermined order or index arrangement.

Because most suitable blister domes which are used in this type of packaging are quite exible, it is unnecessary to use a substantially flat blister dome. Still, due to the facility in stacking, such a shape is certainly preferred.

With respect to the embodiments illustrated in FIG- URES 1 through 4, the base members consist of a pair of substantially identical faces integrally formed. However, only one face need be employed; and, indeed, when two faces are used, there is no necessity that they be integrally formed. The combination of a bifaced base member with a closure member positioned so that no portion is exposed beyond the extreme edges of the base member is preferred. Such a combination minimizes the possibility that the closure member could be prematurely moved and thereby allow items to escape from the packaging area.

The size of the blister package which is used depends only on the use to which it is put. For example, I have made a small size blister package of the type hereinbe- 4fore described which can be used as a business card. Such a business card serves, in addition to the conventional purpose, as a receptacle for samples of items which are sought to be sold. Thus, the packages can vary from the size of a conventional business card to that of a typical file cabinet tab sheet.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that there is described herein both a novel blister package and a novel file system for storing relatively small items and the like. This novel blister package allows items to be stored so that they are exposed to view Without opening the package. And when articles are sought to be removed, this is easily accomplished by merely moving a closure member relative to the base member so that at least a portion of an aperture in the closure member cornes into register with at least a portion of an aperture in the base member. Moreover, the closure member is preferably mounted in such a manner that with normal usage, it is highly unlikely that the closure member could be accidentally moved. Furthermore, the package and closure means can be used over and over again with little possibility of destruction by normal use, while the construction of the package itself is capable of withstanding the rigors of numerous ha-ndlings.

I claim as my invention:

1. A blister package for storing and ling relatively small items and the like in a predetermined order in filing arrangement comprising a base member, a blister dome secured to said base member so as to form a packaging area therebetween, said base member having a first aperture therein which has a size and shape such that said items can easily pass therethrough and a closure member associated with said base member, said closure member being mounted with respect to said base member so as to permit relative movement therebetween, and having a second aperture therein which has a size and shape such that said items can easily pass therethrough, said closure member being movable relative to said base member so that said second aperture can be moved into and' out of register with said first aperture and means associated with said base member receiving identifying indicia for arrangement and identification of said package in said order when in said filing arrangement.

2. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said closure member is disposed between said blister dome and said base member with said relative movement being laterally in one direction along a plane parallel to that of said base member, said blister dome has slide guides engaging at least a portion of the edges of the sides of said closure member which parallel ythe direction of movement of said closure member and said blister dome has stop means adapted to prevent said closure member from fully traversing the lateral dimension of said base member.

3. The blister package of claim 2 wherein said blister dome has an indentation in the side toward which said closure member is adapted to move, said indentation being intermediate the sides of said blister dome which parallel the direction of movement of said closure member, said indentation being such as to expose a portion of said closure member for easy access to initiate said relative movement.

4. The blister package of claim 2 wherein said stop means includes at least one of the sides of said blister dome which is parallel to the direction of relative movement having an irregular shape such that the transverse dimension of said blister dome has a portion of increased length followed by a portion of decreased length and the corresponding side of said closure member has a similar shape with the lateral dimension of said similar shape being less than the corresponding lateral dimension of said irregular shape.

5. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said closure member is positioned in a rotatable relationship with said base member.

6. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said base member consists of two substantially identical sides disposed in the face-to-face relationship and said closure member is positioned between the two substantially identical sides in a rotatable relationship therewith.

7. The blister package of claim 6 wherein said two substantially identical sides have an indentation in one side which exposes a portion of said closure member for easy access to initiate said relative movement.

8. The blister package of claim 6 wherein said closure member is circular in shape.

9. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said closure member is in a slidable relationship with said base member.

10. The blister package of claim 9 wherein said base member consists of two substantially identical faces disposed in a face-to-face relationship, said faces having a pocket formed therein and said closure member is posi` tioned in said pocket,

11. The blister package of claim 10 wherein said two substantially identical faces have an indentation in one side which is such as to expose a portion of said closure member for easy access to initiate said relative movement.

12. The blister package of claim 11 wherein said closure member is of substantially rectangular shape.

13. The blister package of claim 1 wherein said blister dome has a substantially flat face.

14. A blister package for storing relatively small items and filing the same in predetermined order in filing arrangement, comprising, in combination, a base member, a blister dome secured to said base member so as to form a packaging area therebetween, said base member having an aperture therein which has a size and shape such that said items can easily pass therethrough, a closure member slidably mounted with respect to the base member so as to permit relative movement therebetween, said closure member being movable between the rst position wherein said base member aperture is closed and a second position wherein said base member aperture is open to the packaging area and means associated with said base member adapted to receive identifying indicia for arranging said package and suitably identifying said package in said order when in said filing arrangement.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,219,175 3/1917 Sewell 129-16.7 2,426,856 9/1947 Berg 229-20 2,899,046 8/ 1959 COX 206-42 2,971,638 2/1961 Allison, et al. 206-42 3,061,081 10/ 1962 Haidegger 206--65 3,063,557 11/ 1962 Scholl 206-78 FOREIGN PATENTS 398,881 9/1965 Switzerland.

THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner.

WILLTAM T. DIXSON, J R., Examiner. 

1. A BLISTER PACKAGE FOR STORING AND FILING RELATIVELY SMALL ITEMS AND THE LIKE IN A PREDETERMINED ORDER IN FILING ARRANGEMENT COMPRISING A BASE MEMBER, A BLISTER DOME SECURED TO SAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO FORM A PACKAGING AREA THEREBETWEEN, SAID BASE MEMBER HAVING A FIRST APERTURE THEREIN WHICH HAS A SIZE AND SHAPE SUCH THAT SAID ITEMS CAN EASILY PASS THERETHROUGH AND A CLOSURE MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH SAID BASE MEMBER, SAID CLOSURE MEMBER BEING MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID BASE MEMBER SO AS TO PERMIT RELATIVE MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN, AND HAVING A SECOND APERTURE THEREIN WHICH HAS A SIZE AND SHAPE SUCH THAT SAID ITEMS CAN EASILY PASS THERETHROUGH, SAID 